Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

He counted on his fingers, explaining to Zhang Sanlang one by one, "Write this down: County Magistrate Xu has the greatest merit and will receive 100 strings of cash alone. Tao Cheng, Yan Shizhong, and Feng Jian also have their merits and will each be awarded 20 strings of cash."

"Zhang Sanlang, you've done a lot of work running around, so you'll get more than the clerks—thirty strings of cash. Wu Yan was injured while leading the arrest team, I heard? Fifteen strings of cash. He Lantou, Xu Shoufen, and Sun Qianxing will each get ten strings of cash. As for the rest of the archers and miscellaneous workers, you can distribute them."

Zhang Sanlang nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Gu Yansheng's distribution of rewards was reasonable and well-founded, taking into account all parties and ensuring that those who contributed received tangible benefits.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. "Registrar Gu, there is one more thing, but I don't know if I should say it or not."

"Please feel free to speak."

Zhang Sanlang recounted Zhou Qing's story.

From the time when Zhou's father borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates due to illness and lost sixteen acres of land, to selling himself into the Chen family as a servant, and then eloping with the three young ladies of the Chen family to the county town and renting the old Zhang family house.

Finally, he added, "Zhou Qing's sixteen mu of land was forcibly seized by the Chen family. They borrowed ten strings of cash and repaid thirteen strings, but they never got the land back."

"Although Zhou Chenshi is Chen Youde's daughter, she broke off all ties with the Chen family two years ago and knows nothing about Chen Youde's dirty deeds."

After listening, Gu Yansheng wrote with a flourish, "The Zhou family's sixteen mu of land shall be awarded to Zhou Qing. The Chen family mansion shall be awarded to Zhou Chenshi. The mansion is just sitting empty anyway, so giving her a place to live there will leave some room for the Chen family."

Zhang Sanlang took the official document, folded it, and put it in his pocket. "Thank you, Registrar Gu."

Gu Yansheng waved his hand and picked up his teacup.

Zhang Sanlang stepped out, the door closing gently behind him. The sunlight in the corridor was perfect, shining brightly on the blue brick floor. He squinted and walked towards the main house.

After leaving the signing room, Zhang Sanlang returned to his household room first.

Tao Cheng was not there. Wang Tiesi was flipping through account books in the corner, Liao Tiesi was using an abacus, and Zheng Tiesi was copying documents, just like usual.

After chatting with the others for a few moments, Zhang Sanlang took out a wooden box from the cabinet, put the registrar Gu's approval letter and reward plan inside, tucked it under his arm, and headed towards the county granary.

Yan Shizhong was sitting behind his desk, flipping through the inventory register. An old porcelain teapot sat on the corner of the desk, steam rising from its spout. When he saw Zhang Sanlang enter, a smile appeared on his round face.

"Zhang Qianxing is here. Has the Chen family finished taking inventory of their belongings?"

"All accounted for." Zhang Sanlang handed over the official document and the reward plan.

Yan Shizhong took it and read it over. His smile deepened, and his gaze lingered for a moment on the line "award of twenty strings of cash".

"Twenty strings of cash! Registrar Gu is quite generous." He placed the official document on the table, picked up the teapot, took a sip, and put it down again. He then called out, "Master Liu."

Kuzi Liu Da poked his head out from next door.

"Go and call Li Qianxing, Wu Shoufen, Lao Huangtou, and the others over."

Liu Da responded, and soon four or five people arrived.

Yan Shizhong took out five strings of cash from a wooden box under the table and handed it to them, saying, "Take this and divide it among yourselves. This time, you all worked hard registering the property and moving things after the confiscation of the Chen family's property. This is a reward from Registrar Gu."

Li Qianxing and the others each took the money strings, grinning as they thanked him in unison, "Thank you, Registrar Gu! Thank you, Clerk Gu!"

Yan Shizhong waved his hand. "Li Qianxing, this time the reward from Registrar Gu is exceptionally generous. You and Wu Shoufen help write out the receipts according to the reward amount, so they can come and collect the money at any time."

Before long, the two finished writing the receipts.

Zhang Sanlang took the thick stack of receipts, each stamped with the vermilion seal of the county granary. "Thank you, Officer Yan."

After leaving the county granary, Zhang Sanlang went to the clerk's office first.

When Feng Jian saw Zhang Sanlang enter, his usual smile appeared on his face. "You must have been extremely busy these past few days. How come you have time to come over? Please have a seat."

Zhang Sanlang sat down in the chair in front of the desk and explained the reward plan.

After listening, Feng Jian picked up his teacup and blew on it. "Twenty strings of cash. This is the first time Registrar Gu has been so generous. It's rare. Please keep these twenty strings of cash for me."

Zhang Sanlang was taken aback. "Clerk Feng, what does this mean?"

Feng Jian leaned forward with a gentle smile, "I haven't lacked twenty strings of cash during my years in the county government. But you've severed ties with your family and have two children to raise. I heard you've recently been entrusted with the care of orphans and have taken in two adopted daughters?"

"You work in the household registration office, yet you have to support four children. It must be really tough. Take this money and buy the children some winter clothes and some good charcoal so they don't suffer too much in the winter."

Zhang Sanlang looked at Feng Jian, unable to discern his true intentions. He knew, of course, that this money wasn't easy to obtain, but since Feng Jian had put it so clearly, it would be rude of him to refuse.

Without much hesitation, he tucked the receipt into his sleeve, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Thank you very much, Clerk Feng. From now on, I will obey your orders whenever needed."

Feng Jian nodded and smiled, then waved his hand.

Zhang Sanlang stepped out and stood in the corridor for a moment.

Twenty strings of cash!

Feng Jian gave it to him without hesitation.

It's not that he's being generous; he accepted this favor, and he'll naturally have to repay it in the future.

Could it be?

Zhang Sanlang had a sudden inspiration and realized what Feng Jian wanted. He shook his head and smiled bitterly, but he was completely relieved.

Households.

After hearing about the reward from Registrar Gu, Tao Cheng pondered for a moment without showing any joy. "Sanlang, you've been in the Household Department for some time now. There are some things I didn't originally intend to say, but you're a smart man, so I'm sure you'll listen to what I say."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanlang immediately stood up solemnly, adopting a posture of bowing and listening to instruction.

Tao Cheng waved for him to sit down. "This time, Clerk Gu gave you thirty strings of cash as a reward, more than the other clerks. This is your reward for your work, and you deserve it. But if you listen to my advice, you can't keep it all to yourself."

"Share some of the profits with your subordinates, so they'll have something to look forward to. Even give a few coins to those who weren't involved in the case, so they won't be envious. Otherwise, who will be willing to help you next time you need something?"

Zhang Sanlang hadn't expected that he was actually giving him some pointers, and couldn't help but feel a bit of respect for him. "Tao Yashi's advice is correct."

Tao Cheng picked up his teacup and smiled, "I'm a few years older than you, so what I say may not be right. You should go and get back to work."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanlang respectfully withdrew.

He rested briefly in the corridor, going over Tao Cheng's words in his mind.

Archers' Barracks.

Wu Yan was squatting by the well washing his face, with a strip of cloth wrapped around his left wrist, from which blood was slightly seeping.

Old Liu was wiping the short stick nearby, while Little Zhao was squatting against the wall, dozing off.

"Brother Wu." Zhang Sanlang walked over and placed the receipt for fifteen strings of cash on the stone table.

Wu Yan looked up and glanced at the money, then was stunned. "So much reward money?"

Zhang Sanlang stretched and his tone became more relaxed. "It was a reward from Registrar Gu. He said you worked hard leading the team to arrest people and were even injured, so you deserve a generous reward."

Wu Yan glanced down at the strip of cloth on his wrist, grinned, and said, "This little injury is nothing. When I was arresting the money collector, that old bastard tried to run away, and I pulled him down, so my wrist scraped against the wall."

"It's just a scratch, haha!" He shook his hand and took off the strip of cloth. Sure enough, it was just a small scratch. If he had come any later, the wound would have healed.